off-topic Luxury Fashion vs. Fast Fashion: Which One Do You Prefer?

[Apsara]

Luxury brands offer timeless quality, while fast fashion is budget-friendly and trendy. Do you think fast fashion harms sustainability, or is it an affordable way to stay stylish? Which luxury brands are actually worth the investment? What is your favorite pick? Do you think high-end fashion is really better in the long run?

 

[Shawn]

It depends.

For work, I wear polos and jeans. I get my polos and jeans from SAMS CLUB because they're cheap and durable.

For cycling, I buy the better kits. I'll spend $400 on a good pair of bib shorts and a jersey but they also last me for years and years.

The same with my hiking clothing.

I really try to buy stuff made in America if I can help it. I want to support Manufactuing in my country as much as I can.

 

[ActionAce]

I love to strike a balance between luxury and fast fashion. I cannot deny that I adore luxury brands like Gucci and Prada but I also believe in fast fashion as it could be a fun and affordable way to stay in the loop in terms of fashion trends. However, I try to be mindful of how I go about my fast fashion purchases and usually go for second hand or sustainable options.

 

[Harsh World]

I like a couple of brand names, and definitely

stuff made in America

if I can help it. However, I refuse to pay more than $5-10 for a shirt.

Typically, a brand will launch a line in, let's say January, the beginning of the year. If they can't get rid of the inventory by the end of the 3rd quarter, you start to see the prices for shirts going from $40 to $5 fairly quickly. If I like one of the designs, I'll grab it for $10 as I know it'll be sold too quickly at $5 for me to get (L). If it doesn't seem like a popular design, but I still like it, I'll wait it out and get it for $5.

For pants, I wear Levi's jeans in the winter and various surf brands in the summer.

I tend to be on the lookout for classic Ray-Ban frames when they hit the used stores as you just can't find that quality anymore. And, I have a pair of Oakleys, with another one going to be on order soon.

Which luxury brands are actually worth the investment?

Having done drop-shipping before, the truth of the matter is that none are. You get the same shirts from all brands. Some exceptions to this may be for high-end brands like Louis-Vutton, but I do believe that they (or another company) had fabric samples sent in which were compared to samples made in a China factory, and sold to other brands with their prints on them. I could be wrong about which high-end retailer got caught up in that, but they were essentially selling you a $40 Nike shirt with their luxury brand on it for $400-700.

What is your favorite pick?

Nike, ADIDAS, Billabong, Quicksilver, DC, and a couple of other lesser-known ones like Salt Life.

Do you think high-end fashion is really better in the long run?

No, as I believe the fabrics, for the most part, are the same ones you can get from other brands. They might have deals on buying spools of unique fabrics so they can't be directly linked to other print runs anymore, but the weight of the fabric is pretty much the same.

Do you think fast fashion harms sustainability

As long as people are recycling their clothes or donating them, they're not doing much in the larger picture of it all. Let them be consumers and burn through their money. I'm quite content with picking up 5-10 $5 shirts every few months.

 

[Shawn]

if I can help it. However, I refuse to pay more than $5-10 for a shirt.

I paid about $30 for the shirts.

Cycling clothing-wise, I typically buy American. It's more expensive, but it lasts much longer than cheap stuff.

 

[Harsh World]

I paid about $30 for the shirts.

Just regular brand-name t-shirts?

I hit the clearance racks. You couldn't tell if mine were $30 or $5 unless you visited the brand's website and saw the print was no longer on it.

 

[Pete Griffin]

I'm terribly boring when it comes to fashion. Jeans and a t-shirt. The occasional shirt if I'm feeling fancy. My dad used to say that style never goes out of fashion. I've seen some crazy shit being worn and I have to stop myself from staring and asking "WTF? Did they get dressed in the dark?"

 

[Shawn]

I'm terribly boring when it comes to fashion. Jeans and a t-shirt. The occasional shirt if I'm feeling fancy. My dad used to say that style never goes out of fashion. I've seen some crazy shit being worn and I have to stop myself from staring and asking "WTF? Did they get dressed in the dark?"

Do you want me to send you a hat?

I know a nice red one that you could wear

Only teasing!

 

[Harsh World]

I'm terribly boring when it comes to fashion. Jeans and a t-shirt.

Same here except in the summer when I have to wear shorts.

Since it's so hot here, deodorant is the problem with shirts. I will have to cycle through at least 10 per year (rotating out older ones) because no matter the "no [pit] stains" on shirts advertising and marketing, and any brand (Degree, Dove for Men, etc...), they always leave a residue that will build up and then start appearing on the outside like glue which looks terrible.

 

[Pete Griffin]

You should go all out with a wife beater vest. I think a little bit of Freddie would suit you.

In seriousness, I hear what you are saying. It's not always hot here. Our typical three day summer means our temperatures are usually quite mild. I don't pay a large amount for t-shirts. I can get them for about £3 each at Primark. They're comfortable enough for the price.

But yeah, pit stains stink!

 

[Harsh World]

You should go all out with a wife beater vest. I think a little bit of Freddie would suit you.

Unfortunately, tattoos are taboo in Japan, or else I may have pulled off tank tops.

I'd prefer not to make people around me uncomfortable though, or have to worry about bringing a jacket (UV-cut hoodie) with me everywhere I go just in case.

I can get them for about £3 each

A little less than I pay for name brands, but I do pick up non-name brands/generic pattern designs for $1-2 (£0.75-1.50 in your money) for pajama shirts.

But yeah, pit stains stink!

But, I still have to throw away my pajama shirts after a while too.

You'd think by now we'd have a solid deodorant that didn't stain (even though they claim they don't) by now... but, that technology seems out of reach. It's Big Deodorant colluding with Big Fashion!

 

[Pete Griffin]

It's Big Deodorant colluding with Big Fashion!

Collusion is everywhere! The world is one big conspiracy to make sure that The Man stays on top.

 

[Yama]

I don't go for luxury fashion (I have a few Armani suits for formal occasions, though), I also do not go after fast fashion. I am more into clothes that never gets old, for example jeans, tshirts, sweatshirts, etc.